Taunton's Myles Standish Industrial Park breaks ground at new development site

The final development phase of Myles Standish Industrial Park was duly noted Friday morning, as state and local officials held a groundbreaking recognizing the addition of two-million square feet of building land.

The final development phase of Myles Standish Industrial Park was duly noted Friday morning, as state and local officials held a groundbreaking recognizing the addition of two-million square feet of building land.

In addition to the traditional shovel-to-dirt groundbreaking for the future development of phases IV and V, a brief dedication was held for what will be known as Charles F. Colton Road.

The state, during the past year, approved the transfer of 220 acres of land that once was part of the former Paul A. Dever School for the mentally disabled.

The $3.1 million to create Charles F. Colton Road and its accompanying water and sewer extensions is being paid for with matching funds provided by both the federal Economic Development Administration and MassWorks.

The land acquirement and future development is a collaborative effort between the nonprofit Taunton Development Corporation and the nonprofit MassDevelopment, the latter of which specializes in finance and economic development projects.

In addition to TDC and MassDevelopment and city officials, Friday’s event was attended by state Sen. Marc Pacheco, D-Taunton, and state Rep. Shaunna O’Connell, R-Taunton.

Charles F. Colton, in 1946, became steward of Myles Standish School for the Mentally Retarded, later to be known as Paul A. Dever State School.